Preparing silver cutlery for storage 101
Find a dark and dry place
Silver should be in a cool, dry location when you are not using it. Away from direct sunlight and heat. Tarnish on silver accelerates in humid and warm environments. Store your silver flatware and jewelry in a cool, dry, dark place to maintain their luster. Since china cabinets control circulation, they maintain a constant temperature and don’t trap excess moisture, making them ideal for storing expensive dinnerware.
Lack of space
If you don’t have any space at home you can rent climate-controlled storage (if you have something else to go with). In that case, you can find help for heavy lifting. We are talking about movers obviously.
Your silver cutlery can benefit from your old t-shirts
You can take extra precautions against tarnish if you decide to store silver in a plastic bag. The easiest way to store silver cutlery that won’t be on show is in a separate box or bag. Cotton, flannel, or an anti-tarnish cloth would be ideal. They are coated to prevent the activation of the substances that cause silver cutlery to tarnish. Be careful not to overstuff the bag with silver items. Silver can be easily damaged by accidental contact with other objects.
Warning! Dont use newspaper when preparing silver cutlery for storage
Wrapping or storing silver in substances that promote tarnish is not recommended. Many common household products contain chemicals or produce circumstances that promote tarnishing and hence should be avoided while using silver polishes. Newspaper and other typical wrapping sheets fall within this category. Because of the acidity of the ink used to coat them, silver can tarnish over time.
Damage from tarnishing is only one more reason why plastic bags are bad. They also prevent air from circulating. That can cause condensation and rust. Temporary or not, boxes are not ideal for storing anything since they prevent air circulation and trap moisture. Use rubber bands for anything besides keeping your cutlery together.
Once in a while
Once in a while, you should pull the silver cutlery out of hiding. Put it to good use from time to time. After all, its presence defeats the purpose if it is not on display. This is because it is common practice to clean silverware after each usage.
To ensure that each of your cutlery and plates get utilized, it is recommended that you switch them around on a regular basis. If not, the ones that aren’t utilized as often will rust. It’s a must if you want to be sure you’re preparing silver cutlery for storage properly.